Wood-turning lathe



Feb. 19, 1924;

G. ALBER woon TURNING LATHE s Sheets-sheet s Patented F eb; i9, 1924.

. UNITED STATES GEORGE ALBEB, orconuraeus, omo, AssrGNon or ONE-HALF To HQ iw. -NKEn or COLUMBUS, OHIO.

WOOD-.TURNING LATHE.

Application mea my za, 1921. serial No. 487,116.

ToaZZ wiz/m t may concern:

' Be it known that GEORGE ALBER, a'citizen of the Unit-ed States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in VVood-Turning Lathes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvementsin wood turning lathes, and has for its primary object to provide a machine or lathe whereby stock handled thereby vmay be turned lin an effective or efficient manner to produce smooth round stock wherein a longitudinaltaper is present. n

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a wood turning lathe which is to be principally employed for the purpose of producing the shafts of golf sticks y or clubs, wherein it is necessary that such shafts be formed to include smooth, per-v fectly roundedl longitudinally tapering shafts, in order that the clubsA may be employed to the best advantage. ,Heretofore, the operation of finishing Va golf club has ordinarily beendone by manual operations, owing to the fact that such a high degree of accuracy is necessary, vmanufacturers of golf clubs have relied upon manual skill to produce clubs ofproper balance wherein the shafts are carefully shaped so that the same will be absolutely straight from a` standpoint of their longitudinal axis and wherein the desired rounded cylindrical construction will be presentwith a Yuniform taper, which will extend from theV handle ends of the shafts to the club ends. It is well known that if these featuresdo not obtain an imperfect club will be produced and one which can not be relied upon'by the user thereof.

VThe present invention therefore consists in the provision of a wood turning lathe capableof producing finished stock for use in golf club construction and which will be capable of finishing the stock with a greater degree of accuracy than can be accomplished by hand operations, and also with far less production expense.

Other objectsof ,the invention reside in providing ya lathe with an improved longitudinally movable rotatable cutter with novel supporting means' for retaining the stock in connection with the lathe and in cooperation with the cutter,- the construction being such. that the cutter may be shifted.

transversely of the lathe automatically and i by regulated means in order that'the taper produced in the stock may be accordingly varied and controlled, the construction, therefore, for effecting the support andV mounting of the rota-ry cutter and the stock' associated therewith constituting one of the` important features of the present invention.

For a further understanding of thespecificnature of the invention and to one of the practical embodiments thereof, reference is to beha-d to the lfollowing description'and to the accompanying drawings, the scopeof theinvention beingparticularly de,- fined in the appended claim@ f In lthe accompanying drawings: Y p Figure 41l is a side elevation of a', wood turning f lathe constructed inl accordance with the presentA invention, i

Figure 2 is atop plan view thereof, i Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line 3J-3 ofFigure'l,

Figure 4 is a` vertical longitudinal sectional View taken vthrough the 'lathe and illustrating more'V articula'rly1 the construc-v tion ofand the mountingv for the traveling work holder, the plane of the section beingl indicated by the line vofFigure 3, Figure 5 is -a vertical section talfzen,` through the traveling work support for; holder on theline 5-7-5 of Figure 3, i Figure is a transverse sectional view taken on vthe vlinef66 of Figure 3, Figure 7 is adetail perspective view vdisclosing more particularly the bed of the lathe, the longitudinal shiftablev carriage mounted thercointhe traveling work holder vand the rotary cutter construction,

yFigure 8 is a Vdetail sectional View'disclos ing the manner of positioning one end of a club 'shaft in the'spindle of the headstock, and p v Figure 9 is a similar view disclosing the' manner of positioningthe other endof the stick or shaft in the dead spindle of the tail z stock.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the numeral l designates the improved lathe, comprising the present invention, in its entirety. Fundamentally, the lathe consists of a hase or bed 2 which is generally of.l rectangular form and includes parallelA longitudinally extending side bars' 3, and from thecorners of .the bed .the lathe is provided with the usual depending-rigidly constructed legs 4, which are adapted to rest upon the floor so as to maintainthe bed 2 Von the usual. horizontal plane common to machines yof thispcharacter. At the opposite ends of the bed 2 there are provided the head andl tail stock members 5 and 6 respectively, the head stock being provided with the usual longitudinally extending rotatable chuck 7, which in this instance is adapted' to be driven by means of a belt passing around a pulley 8 connected with the chuck,

the tail stock being provided with the usual pointedv stud 9, located in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the lchuck 7, and by means of this construction the stock may; be

`suitably supported for rotation between the members 5 and 6 in the usual manner cus,

tomarv to machines of this character. In this instance the shank 10 ofv aV golf stick or clubis shown confined for rotation between the head and tail stock members and supfported in connection therewith by forming the head end 11 of the shank with a reduced tapering extension 12, which is usually employed in connecting the head of a golf club to the lower end of the shank. This eXtension 12 is utilized in the present machine by positioning the same within the socket of the chuck 7 so asrto be carried by said chuck and to rotate'therewith, the opposite end, or the gripping extremity of theshaft,

is positioned in contact with the end of the pointed stud 9 of the tail stock. lt will be apparent that vby longitudinally adjusting the stud 9, in the ordinary manner, the

shank of a golf stick may be securely yet removably retainedr in connection with the lathe for turning purposes. The shafts 10, before being placed in the lathe, are first roughly turned to assume substantially the shape disclosed inrFigure 1V by means of a "doweling machine. and are thenV turned down by thelathe 1 for the purpose of accurately and properly finishing the stock and adapting the same to the finished prod uct, the purpose of the lathe being to props,

erly round the shaft, to render` the same absolutely straight and true and to produce aI longitudinal. taper in the length of the stick Vwhich will serve for the purpose of Y renderingv the completed club `relatively resilient or flexible and therefore of efficiency in practical service.

To finish the stick and to secure the above results there is provided a cutter 13, which is mounted in connection with a traveling carriage 14, the latter being disposed for movement longitudinally of the lathe bed,

greater in order that the cutter 13 may engage with ythe club shaft 10 along the full length of the latter to generally finish and true 'the same. the said carriage 'being of peculiar construction in order that regulated lateral movement on the part of the cutter may take pla-ce, thus adapting the cutter to the taper shaft.

found throughout the lengthV ofthe club The construction ofthe carriage involves a base plate 15, which is formed on its under surface,

are adapted to receive parallel shears 17 Y with Y' longitudinally extending -substantially `V shaped grooves 16, which integrally formed with thebed "2 which constitute guides for the plate 15 and enable the latter to be. moved longitudinally of vthe bed 2, the said plate being provided with longitudinal extensions 18, which increase the bearing area betwecnthe, plate and the shears 17 for the purpose of render.v

ing the base substantial and not'likely. to

tilt'or rock in operation.v This tendency is horizontal tongues 22 provided in conjuncf tion with a vertically disposed apron 23, which extends parallel with "and to one side ofv one of theside bars 3. The apron 23 serves to provide a bearing for ythe reception of a rotatable shaft 24, which has its outerY end Vequipped with a hand wheel 25 and its inner end withV a spur 'gear 26. This Vgear also meshes with a second spur gear 27` which is rotatably mounted upon Aa stud axle projecting inwardly from the apron 23, and the gear 27 is positioned on a plane above that of theshaft 24, in order that the gear 27 will be enabled to mesh Ywith the teeth of a rack 28` fixed to the under side of one of the legs 29 of a side bar 3. VManifestly, by rotating the hand wheel25 move.

ment will be Vimparted lto the gearsY 26 and 27, and since the gear 27 is in mesh with the rack 28 longitudinal movement on the part of the base platel'and the carriage V14 generally will be produced. By this lconstruction the carriage may be caused to travel longitudinally of the lathe 1, and by means of hand power.YV c 1 Ordinarily, the carriage is longitudinally shifted automatically and by means VVof power applied to the lathe from an outside source. Thus, a feed screw 30 is journaled in connection with the bed2 so as to rotate beneath the carriage 14, one end of the lili? Yno screw in this instance being equipped with Y a pulley 31 to permit of the application of power to the screw 30; The carriage or base plate 15 is provided with a depending extension 32 which is formed to comprise a vertical guide 33 for the reception ofy a pair l of slidable jaws 34, which are adapted to be engaged or disengaged with the Screw,

o5 ting drum 49, whioh is, r0tatahly supported,

forengagement with .the shaft l0.-

30. When drawn together the jaws34will gripthe threads of thegserewsothatflongif 'tudinal:movement` will be imparted the carriage, but when separated the said jaws are movedtoa position outotengagement with Athe screw, thus stopping Athemovementof thelearriage To control the operation of the jaws, tthe extension v.32 and the apron 23 are provided withbearingsfor.

the reoeptionof a `rotatable shaft 35, .and the inner endlo' this shaft isconneeted with liijiks 3 6, which in turnhave y their outer ends oonneoted with the :jaws34.V -By this construction it will be .manifest that the rotation ofzthefshaftf .will by reason of the links 36 draw the jaws 34;.together or' spreadthe same apart, thuscontrolling their driving relation's'l'iip with respect .to the The rotation .Of the shaft 3.5 `may beeectedby means of a hand lever screw .30.

37, or bymea'ns of a orankarm 38, which latteris adapted :to be fixed tto the shaft 35 andis .capable .otengaging thelxed abutments at the opposite ends of the bed 2, whereby `when the -oarriage reaches predetermined positions `upon the bed -2 .thev said erank arm willbe operated vto automatically stop movement yon 4the part of the Carriage/teas Willgbe clearly understood.

Slidably mounted upon the base plate f15 for movementatransversely of the ybed 2 is the intermediate plate 39 of. the carriage. This plate has its under'surfaee provided witha dovetail groove 40 which is adapted to reeeive dovetailzprojections v41 formed upon the' upper part A.of the plate 15, the'V dovetail -unionv between the plates l5 .and 3.9 serving to p ermitthe latter to be 'shifted laterally of the lathe but .not Avertically thereof, andby use ofthe lplate 39 amounting is'pprovided for the eutter` 13 which will enable the teeth of the latter to be mainf tained in proper engagement with .the ,tapered shank 10 offthe stoek. @It will be observed that the uppersurfaee ofthe plate 39 is also .provided with a dovetailprojee-` tion 42, which `isadapted .to be received within a .similarly formed groove 43 :providedin the under `part oa top plate 44,

gthe said-top plate beingadjustable transversely of the `lathe 1 in -a manner independent of the intermediate plate 39, but restrained from moving vertically with respect to the intermediatey plate. lThe plate .44;ineludes .vertieallyqspaeed upwardly extending bracket arms 45,y in .which is {jonrnaled .a cutter shaft 46, vthe :said .shaft having its outer end conneotedwith the rotary milling cutter 13 which .is adapted shaft 46, between the arms45, isequipped with a pulley 47, around whichv is passed Van endless vbelt 48, the latter also being trained over a .longiinidinallyv extend- Thev A in .conneetonwtha power. drrongshaitf-.

thm-latter :being f-Supportod .tin conjunction with .thoJGgS 4., and .equipped with ya -.:be1.t wheel 5l. `,By :reason .of 'the length ofthe d1'u1n49. it .will be Iappa-rent that i power ,will be imparted to the pulley 47 throughout the entire" length of longitudinal travelv of the carriage.' .Theplatesj 15, 39 and 44 arel provided with registering openings '152, through whiehthe ibelt48 is .permitted to pass, the said belt .extending downwardly between thefside bars .3.and to eaohgside of -vthe centrally disposed bar 53]0the-v bed 2.A

T.Oefeot Y riage 14 and consequently .the cutter`13$o Ithe lateral Ashifting of thecar-s eloVV that the latter may. at all times conform and properly .engage with the longitudinal taper of .the shaft l1.0, the intermediate plate v 39 inoludesa fixedbraeket 54 which lisglo-fy eludes `a horizontally extendingshelf -55.f i

Theupper surface of one of the sidebars 3 is equipped Awith `anadjustable guide; strip;

56.V This stripis centrally pivoted .as at 57,:and is provided with binding screws 58,k

contiguous toits endsfthe, said vsorews'being disposed for movement within t,i'ansve 1's e slots 59 formed-:inpne' of the ,side-,bars 3.

Y By. reason of the central j pivot of: the strip 56, it will be manifest ithat f, the latter may be adjusted so that `it .will properly con- V form with the. shaft 10. and willzextend in parallelismftherewith,lthe strip being oa-y pable ofbeing retained Within Yany Yofv its# adjusted positions .by means of 'the screwsplate 22 are V equipped k.withvertically journaledrollers 60, which vare adapted to en i gage with the oppositesidesof thestrip 56.v

By this eonstructiondt will-jbeinanifest that when the earriage yis moved :longitudinallyg of the lathev on the parallel-shears `17,- shifting vmovement willftbe yautomatically im-` parted to the plates `3.9 and :44, 'and conse quently theeutter 13 by reason ofthe `engagement of the frollers60-rwith y the opposite sides of the g'uidestrip L56, athis latter movement taking place fbecanse of the faet v thatgthe said guide strip Yis situatedftol ex- Toeompensate fortheefeots of wear on j, the @utter .1.3, the top p1atef144 stmade ad* justable ,with respeot -to -the intermediate plate 39,and adjustment v.between these plates can be eleeted-and maintained by y the" provision of-a :sere-wfl/.f' .This serew is j carried-by the bracket 54 and is threadedy Ypendcntlyl of the "plate 39.` rllhe post 62deV provided with a slidable block 66, which is movement `between the bar 63 and the inter-- mediate plate 39 will take place during into a bore formedjiny the Vplate It will bemanifest that by rotating the screwy 61' relative adjustment may be'eiected between the intermediate ande-.top plates so as; to

control the cutting depth of' the' cutter 13.

In order lto support the stock at its points of engagement with the. cutter 13, there is provided a work holding or vsupporting structure.Y This structure consists of a post 62, which Varises vertically from a. transverselyT adjustable bar 63. This bar is connected 'with the intermediate plate 39, `by. informing one side of said plate with a dovei a similarly formed'projection 65 provided 'A tail groove 64, which is adapted Vto receive on one-'side of the bar 63, this construction servine to effect the supportof the 'bar 63Y and at the same time to permitthe latter to be adjusted laterally yof the'bed 2 and indemounted for slidinginovement withinY guides provided by the post, and the said block is V'connectedwith an adjustabledog 67, which includes aA finger 68, disposed to underlie the stock10 As the carriage moves longitudi- `nallyof thebed, it lis necessary that the finger 63 should be gradually raised so'as Vto maintain'itselfin contact withtlie stop 'andtoraccomplish this irrespective of the taper therein. y lowerii'ig` Vof the llinger 68is yeilected by pro-V This automatic raising and viding the outerfendof .the bar 63 with depending vertically jouriialed rollers "69,

which are disposed'ifor engagement with anA adjustable guide strip '70' provided upon one of ythe side bars 3. Thestrip 70 is identical in construction withtliat ofthe strip 56,' both'of said strips being disposed so that the same will converge towardthe head of the lathe and diverge towand the tail portion thereof, vthus adapting Ythe strips to the taper inthe stock l0. By reason of the strip 70 it will be apparent thatrelative longitudinal travel Aon the part of the carriage as a whole. YThen, in order that the movement of the bar 63 will result in raising and lowering` thefinger of the dog 67, the

block`66 is provided with: a screw 71,`which passes through a vertical slot 72 formed under part of the stock10. A spring is confined between the Vtop of the" post 62 and the upper end of the block 66,'the said spring serving to maintain Vpropercontact between the angle plate V7 3 and thee-am 74., The inclination of the cam may be regulated by `means of screwsV 76, which areA disposed on *opposite sides of `the vpivotal kmounting 77 of the cam. n

` By reason' of the Vconstruction'described mechanism is provided kwhich will serve to effect the 'rotatable positioning of stock [in connection withY the head and Vtail* stock*- members 5 and 6' respectively, andby virtueV 80 mounting will be provided 'for thelrcutter ofv the peculiar carriage construction, a

13 which will serve at alltimes to properlyj Y engage with the `stock 10,"thus causing the latter t'be properly'roiinded and truly linished'so asV to overcomeall irregularities in the formation thereof andto provideth'e stock with a true longitudinal aXis. Then,

by reason of the guide strip' c'or'istruction.Yv

56, a means is provided whereby the carriageY may 'be shifted laterally yas well as longi tudinally, so that the cutter will be adapted to the longitudinal' taper to be produced in y' the stock. It willbe understood thatthe carriage may be shifted longitudinally either by hand or power, orboth, and byfieason of the lateral adjustment ofthe cutter the latter will be enabled to truly follow and finish the stock. Tear in the machine, or a change in- `the cutting depth thereofV is capable of being readily'taken care of byj' means `of the'scr'ew adjustment provided be-V tweenV the intermediate and top Vplates of the carriage. Also,.by reason of the crank arm construction 38, longitudinalV travel of the carriage may be automatically 'arrested at any desired point. By means of the shifting bar 63, and the Vcooperative means for controlling its movement, a work holder is provided which will at all times" properly engage with the stock irrespective Aof' its taper, thus holding the stock vduring its ini period of engagement with the teeth of the y rotary cutter, enabling the latter to travel.

at a high rate of speed, without splitting,

marring or injuring the wood of the stock in any manner. To further prevent jarring or vibration in the stock while the same is being-acted upon by the cutter, oneof the bracket arms 45, is provided with an angle piece V7 8, towhich is connected an adjustable work rest 79. .This rest is adaptedrv to engage with the upper part of the stock` to hold the latter in engagement with the finger 68 during the movement and @pera-` tion of' the cutter. These features for supf porting the work or stock are ofvery considerable importance, in that they enable the machine to operate at relatively fast speeds, to thereby increase to reduce operating costs.

production vand 4 What is claimed is:

In a yWood Working lathe, a bed, head and tail stocks carried rby the bed, a carriage associated with the bed and having a rotary cutter associated therewith, said carriage including a base and top pla-te and an intermediate plate, said plates being relatively movable, a bar slidable on theintermediate plate and having a Work support carried thereby, said support `including a finger for 1u engaging the Work, a cam carried by the top Y plate for raising the finger when the bar and cutter are moved toward each other, as and for the purpose set forth.

vIn testimony whereof I aiix my signature.

, GEORGE ALBER.y 

